The second Bell 47D, built probably in 1947. Ex NX132B. Delivered to Petroleum-Bell Helicopter Services around February 1949. A Bell 47B-3, c/n 52, was NC132B earlier. Photo by: Harold Martin

Ship 1, the first Bell helicopter, underwent several visual changes. By the summer of 1943, a wheeled undercarriage was installed, the fuselage was covered and it was painted blue overall. When rebuilt as Ship 1A in 1944 it was yellow. Photo from: Wright State University

Floyd Carlson hovering the second Bell 30 inside an armoury in Buffalo. Since Hanna Reitsch had flown an Fw 61 in the Deutschlandhalle, this was merely the 'first indoor flight of a helicopter in the western hemisphere'. The building seems to be the Masten Avenue Armory. Photo from: Niagara Aerospace Museum

The prototype of the Bell 42, flown as early as September 1945. Not designed by Arthur Young's research team in the Gardenville garage, the five-seat luxury helicopter was complex and difficult to fly. Three examples were built. Improvements led to the military H-12 or Model 48. Photo from: Bell Aircraft Museum

Early ground shot of the Bell 65 experimental VTOL aircraft. Photo from: Bell Aircraft Museum

Crude VTOL research aircraft composed of a Schweizer glider fuselage, a clipped Cessna 170 wing and Bell 47 skids. Two tilting Fairchild J44 turbojets, plus vertical flight control nozzles fed by a small Palouste turbine. Later fitted with wheel landing gear, it made some vertical and horizontal flights, but was unable to transition due to insufficient thrust. Built by Bell's Niagara Frontier Division; photo assumed taken at KIAG. This airframe donated to Smithsonian, second static test airframe lost in engine fire. Photo from: Bell / Nationaal Archief (Netherlands)

The very first Bell helicopter as rebuilt after a crash in September 1943. Ship 1 was now referred to as Ship 1A. The tailwheel had been moved forward. Later still a nosewheel landing gear was fitted. Photo probably taken at Buffalo Airfield near Gardenville, where Bell's helicopter team under Arthur Young worked in a former garage. Photo from: Nationaal Archief (Netherlands)

Toronto mining engineer Hans Lunenberg, a pioneer in helicopter surveying, holding a wheel of a very early Bell 47. Photo by a Toronto Star photographer so likely taken locally, although the Bell factory in Buffalo, NY was not far away. Photo by: Gordon Powley / Toronto Star

Larry Bell envisioned a thriving market for personal helicopters would emerge after WWII and to be part of it he created the Bell 30 Ship 1A. It proved that a practical personal helicopter was feasible and it led directly to the Bell Model 47. This is just one of many ground-breaking exhibits on display at the NASM Udvar-Hazy Center.

Grateful thanks to the people at the American Helicopter Museum for their helpfulness and kindness. This was the only day I could visit and the museum was actually closed, yet they let me in and allowed me to photograph their exhibits. Really nice people so please visit if you get the chance!

The prototype Bell 47B which was the first enclosed version of the Model 47 for commercial operators. 80 examples were built. From Bell 60 years ago.